1905 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



459 



the trade. These willows were sold to 

 farmers for fancy prices and planted 

 on the prairies of Minnesota and the 

 Dakotas on hundreds of farms where 

 the worthless shrub was growing wild 

 along the banks of every pond and 

 water course. Nobody seemed to have 

 cared to inquire whether or not the 



The use of the white willow in Iowa 

 is another illustration of the extensive 

 planting of a species without knowl- 

 edge of its disadvantages. During the 

 early settlement of the prairies of 

 Iowa, the farmers planted the white 

 willow in single rows on both sides of 

 the public highways. For a few years 



Mixed Plantation of Cottonwood and Boxelder in Red River 

 Valley. The Boxelder served a Useful Purpose as Ground 

 Cover, Keeping the Grasses from Gaining a Footing Un- 

 der the Thin-Foliaged Cottonwood Age About 15 Years; 

 Height, 50 Feet; Diameter, 8 to 12 Inches. 



diamond willow attains the size of a 

 tree, or is long lived, or is adapted to 

 prairie planting. Many a Minnesota 

 farmer will regret the planting of dia- 

 mond willows, and his experience will 

 disgust and discourage him and hin- 

 der the whole tree planting movement. 



it seemed that these plantations would 

 be a great source of profit to the own- 

 ers ; but now one hears scarcely any- 

 thing but condemnation of the white 

 willow where it was so popular twen- 

 ty years ago. To be sure it thrives, 

 but it has become a nuisance in many 



